Frank a



(No Model.)

F. A. WESTBROOK.

E a EIEE ESCAPE.

N0. 398,210. Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

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1 LXNK A. \VESTBROOK, 0F PORT JERVIS, NElY YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFXCATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,210, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed July 18, 1888. Serial No. 280,321. (No model.)

Beit known that I, FRANK A. WEsTBnooK, of Port Jervis, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specilication.

lllyinvention relates to an improvement in fire-escapesg and it consists in the combination of aframe which is composed of two separate parts between which the rope is clamped, and which are not secured together, but simply held in contact with each other, one of the parts being provided with supporting-ears and the other with a projection, with the operating-lever provided with journals or bearings, a loop through which the supporting rope is passed, and with a handle at its lower end, the inner side of the lever being made to bear against the projection upon one of the parts of the frame, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to form a frame of two separate and distinct parts, one of which is provided with a projection on its outer side, so as to form a bearing or fulcrum for the operatingdever, and thus enable it to force the two parts of the frame tightly together against the rope, so as to control the descent of a person from a building or elevated position or check the descent altogether,

as may be desired.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fireescape which embodies my invention complete. Figs. 2 and 3 are detached views of a portion of the frame and the operatinglever.

A represents one partof the frame, 13 the other, and U the rope upon which the descent is made, and which is held between the two parts of the frame, as shown. These two parts A B of the frame are not pivoted or connected together; but one of the parts is provided with recesses D and the other with projections E to catch therein, and thus hold the two parts of the frame together. These projections and recesses simply serve to pre vent the two parts of the frame from becoming separated, but serve no other purpose, for the two parts of the frame play back and forth in relation to the rope as they are operated by the lever.

The part A of the frame is provided with two ears, G, between which the part B fits, and in the upper edge of these ears G are formed suitable bearings for the journals H upon the operating-lever I. Formed upon the outer side of the part B of the frame in between the cars G is a projection, L, which has its outer end to lit in a corresponding recess formed in the inner side of the operating-lever just below the journals I-l. \Vhen the lower end of the lever is forced inward toward the frame A B, the part B of the frame is made to bear tightly against the rope, and in proportion as the lower end of the lever is moved outward the friction of the parts A B of the frame is lessened on. the rope.

The supporting band or belt 0 is passed around the body of the person making the descent from the building or other elevated points, and passed through the ring or loop I upon the upper and outer corner of the loop. Indirect proportion to the weight of the person descending the two parts of the frame A B are clamped against the rope, so as to regulate the descent. The band or belt, exerting a pull upon the upper end of the lever in direct proportion to the weight of the person descending, forces the lower end of the lever inward, and thus automatically exerts a pressure through the projection upon the two parts of the frame, so as to make them clamp the rope between them. This pressure is automatically applied, and hence nothing is left to the judgment or experience of the person using the fire-escape, and as the friction applied to the rope is in direct proportion to the weight of the person the descent will be uniform from beginning to end.

In case the operator should wish to descend more rapidly he has but to take hold. of the lower end of the lever and draw it slightly outward toward him; and in case he desires to check his descent he has but to force this lower end inward, when the friction will be increased to such an extent as to instantly check or entirely stop his descent.

who have to work upon the outer sides of buildings, ships, and other such places.

This invention is intended as an improve-- ment upon Patent No. $2,574, granted to me May S, 1888, and differs therefrom in having a projection, L, formed upon the part l3, whereby the lever and the whole lower part of the fire-escape are grasped by the hand and the pressure of th e two parts A B upon the rope C regulated without having to move the hand from the parts A B, thus enabling the person making the descent to easily control and regulate his movements.

Having thus described my invention, I claim The combination of the two parts of the frame applied to opposite sides of the rope, one of the parts being provided with ears and the other with a projection upon its outer side, the operating-lever provided with journ .LlS or bearings to catch in the ears, and a ring or loop at its upper corner through which the suspending strap or belt is passed, said lever bearing against the projection upon one of the parts of the frame, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. XVESTBROOK.

WVitnesses:

HENRY W. WIeeINs, AARON J. HORNBECK. 

